PCB threatens to sue ICC
London/Karachi, September 4
Miffed with the suspension of the three Pakistani cricketers implicated in the ‘spot-fixing’ scandal, the PCB today threatened to sue the ICC if the players were found innocent even as the country's diplomats struck a discordant note with contradictory statements on the matter.

Elizabeth Robertson, lawyer representing Pakistani bowlers reads a statement after the questioning of the players by the British police as part of the allegations of match fixing on Thursday. Tafazzul Rivzi (R) is legal representative to the Pakistan Cricket Board.
— AFP

Saina says Delhi not ready for CWG, retractsHyderabad, September 4
Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal today set off ripples in sports circles when she expressed dissatisfaction over the preparations for Commonwealth Games, but retracted her controversial statement within moments.

Texas Rangers’ Michael Young (below) is forced out at second by Minnesota Twins shortstop
JJ Hardy during the eighth innings of their American League baseball game in Minneapolis on Friday. Minnesota won 4-3. — Reuters

Indian golfers miss cut at European Masters
Montana (Switzerland), September 4
The Indian challenge in the Omega European Masters ended after the six golfers in fray missed the cut with largely disappointing second-round cards here.
Shiv Kapur was the only Indian, who managed to break par with a two-under 69, but that was just not enough to fetch him a place inside the cut-line which came at one-under 141.

IHF to conduct junior championship in Pune
New Delhi, September 4
Re-recognised by the Sports Ministry, the Indian Hockey Federation today announced that it would organise the junior national championship from September 20-30 in
Pune.

Decide perks of kabaddi players: HC
Chandigarh, September 4
Less than three months after two players raised dust of controversy over selections for “World Cup Kabbadi 2010”, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has disposed of their petition with a direction to the authorities concerned to decide their plea for perks and benefits.

Bopanna-Qureshi in 3rd round
New York, September 4
Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi progressed to the men’s doubles pre-quarterfinals of US Open with a straight-set win over German-Finn pair of Michael Kohlmann and Jarkko
Nieminen.

Karachi:
Pakistan Twenty20 and ODI captain Shahid Afridi insists that
leading his side in the upcoming five-match ODI series against
England would be the biggest challenge of his career. The team is
currently embroiled in a ‘spot-fixing’ scandal. “For me, it
is a big challenge to lead the team in the existing conditions,
but I have tried my best to relax the players,” he said.
— ANI

Cricket’s biggest chance to clean itself: Dravid

New Delhi: Rahul Dravid has called for a “comprehensive” probe into the scam and said the current scandalwas “cricket biggest chance to clean itself”. On the suspension of Pakistani cricketers, he said the inquiry should be taken to its logical conclusion.
— PTI

Spot-fixing not confined to Pakistan cricket: Imran

Karachi: Pakistan's former captain, Imran Khan fears that the menace of spot-fixing in cricket could be a much more malignant problem then it is being perceived. He said in a television interview that he believed that spot-fixing/betting might be going on uninterrupted in many countries and was not just a problem confined to Pakistan cricket.
— PTI

London/Karachi, September 4
Miffed with the suspension of the three Pakistani cricketers implicated in the ‘spot-fixing’ scandal, the PCB today threatened to sue the ICC if the players were found innocent even as the country's diplomats struck a discordant note with contradictory statements on the matter.

A day after Test captain Salman Butt and pacers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir were suspended by the ICC and questioned by the Scotland Yard, PCB’s legal advisor Talib Rizvi told PTI that if the trio was found innocent, the PCB would consider taking legal action against the ICC.

“I want to make it clear that the PCB will consider legal action against the ICC and other bodies if our players are found innocent because we feel the ICC has bypassed some of its own procedures in suspending the players in this case,” Rizvi said. He also emphasised that at the moment there was no criminal investigation going on against the three players, who were released without charge by the Scotland Yard after questioning in London.

“It is just a preliminary inquiry and nothing more. They are being questioned. No investigations have been held,” he added. Even as the controversy raged on, Pakistan’s response appeared contradictory with its High Commissioner in Britain Wajid Shamsul Hasan continuing to attack the ICC for suspending the trio but the country’s envoy to the United Nations Abdullah Haroon asking for punishment for those found guilty in the scandal.

Launching yet another scathing attack on ICC, Hasan said by dropping Aamir from the list of its annual awards nominees, the body has strengthened his apprehensions that “there is a rat in the whole affair”.

Hasan, who was described by an unnamed fellow diplomat as a “loose cannon”, said the removal of Aamir from the list of nominees for ICC’s ‘Emerging Player of the Year’ award violates the principle of “innocent until proven guilty”. “After the shocking, arbitrary and high-handed suspension of the three Pakistani cricketers through the ICC's uncalled for action, nothing is coming to me as a surprise. Rather, my apprehensions that there is a rat in the whole affair are being strengthened. It is emerging as a fishy situation where pieces have now started falling in place to convince me that there is more than meet the eyes,” he said. The Pakistani diplomat termed the ICC's action against the tainted trio as "malafide and sinister" and said it was done to cover up its own wrongdoings.
— PTI

Hyderabad, September 4
Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal today set off ripples in sports circles when she expressed dissatisfaction over the preparations for Commonwealth Games, but retracted her controversial statement within moments.

As Saina is one of the brand ambassadors of the CWG-2010, her candid remarks, questioning the country’s capability to hold the mega international event, added to the discomfiture of the
organisers.

Saina first said she really doubts whether Delhi was capable of holding the event and the preparations were “not up to the mark” but made a prompt volte-face by changing her version.

“Looking at the stadiums and looking at the progress, I don’t really think we are capable of holding such big tournaments because you know, I have seen many Games like the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne (in 2006) and Olympic Games in Beijing (in 2008). Compared to that its not up to the mark,”

she said during her interaction with the media at Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy here.

However, realising the gravity of her stinging comments, Saina later retracted and expressed regrets. “I am sorry for whatever I said. I did not mean it. The Commonwealth Games will be a huge success,” she said.

In a damage-control exercise, the champion said, “I want to do well in front of my home crowd. I am very proud that Commonwealth Games are being held in India. I am a little disappointed after making these comments. It is not right on my part to say it as lots of people follow me”.

She also hoped that India would be able to bag a lot of medals at the Games.

Saina’s earlier comments expressing doubts over Delhi’s capability to host global sporting event could not have come at a more inopportune time for the beleaguered Organising Committee of the CWG, which is already facing the flak in the wake of allegations of irregularities, delays, poor quality of construction works and cost overruns.

Car rally celebrates 30-day countdown

New Delhi: Around 100 families took part in a glittering 10th Family Fun Car Rally, which marked the 30-day countdown to the Delhi Commonwealth Games, here today.

Filled with great zeal and fervour, the families along with their children came out in colourful attires to take part in the Rally which was flagged off by Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, from the Commonwealth Games headquarters. The theme of the decoration was 'Sports' and in order to make the rally even more fascinating, the participants decorated their cars in sync with the theme and dressed themselves like sportspersons.

Players yet to get cycles

Patiala: With just 30 days to go for the CWG, the cyclists of the Indian team are yet to get their all important equipment. The decks have been cleared for the import of 40 high quality cycles that will be arriving here in 10 days - barely few weeks before the Games, a senior functionary of the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) said here on Saturday. CFI president Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said three years ago the federation had given a list of equipment required for the cycling event to the Sports Ministry.
— PTI

Montana (Switzerland), September 4
The Indian challenge in the Omega European Masters ended after the six golfers in fray missed the cut with largely disappointing second-round cards here.
Shiv Kapur was the only Indian, who managed to break par with a two-under 69, but that was just not enough to fetch him a place inside the cut-line which came at one-under 141.

Jeev Milkha Singh signed off with an identical total, but after returning a disappointing second round of two-over 73. The seasoned Chandigarh-pro had a brilliant front-nine studded with four birdies against just a lone bogey. But he blew away his chances of remaining in fray for weekend action by by dropping two bogeys and a double bogey in the back-nine.

Further down was Delhi-golfer Jyoti Randhawa, who carded a three-over 74 to finish with a total of 144 along with Gaganjeet Bhullar. Bhullar turned in a topsy-turvy 71, which included six birdies, but was marred by two bogeys and an equal number of double bogeys. C Muniyappa was five-over 147 overall after a 76 in the second round.

SSP Chowrasia, who has been struggling with his famous short game that has earned him the nickname 'Chip-Putt-Sia', lay right at the bottom after failing to find a single birdie in the second round. The Kolkata-pro stumbled to eight bogeys and a double bogey for an 81 yesterday, which left his overall score at 12-over 154.

At the top, Spaniard Angel Miguel Jimenez took a three-stroke lead with a total of 14-under 128 after carding a blemish-free 10-under 61, which was studded with six birdies and a couple of eagles.
— PTI

New Delhi, September 4
Re-recognised by the Sports Ministry, the Indian Hockey Federation today announced that it would organise the junior national championship from September 20-30 in Pune.

It will be the first Indian Hockey Federation tournament since the Delhi High Court lifted a suspension on the body and asked the Sports Ministry to recognise it as the sole authority for running sports in the country. This would also be the first time when the championship would be conducted simultaneously for both boys and girls.

The IHF and the Indian Women's Hockey Federation (IWHF) had merged to form a single body after the government’s directions last month.

Indian Hockey Federation chief KPS Gill said the tournament would be an ideal platform to scout fresh talent.

"It is an important tournament as talented youngsters emerge. And although the championship did not take place in the last 2-3 years, this is the right time to revive it," Gill told PTI. The last edition of the junior national championship was held in 2007 in Chennai.

All the affiliated states and institutions have been asked to confirm their entries by September 10.
— PTI

Chandigarh, September 4
Less than three months after two players raised dust of controversy over selections for “World Cup Kabbadi 2010”, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has disposed of their petition with a direction to the authorities concerned to decide their plea for perks and benefits.

In their petition, Harjinder Singh of Tarn Taran and Ajit Pal Singh of Ludhiana district had earlier alleged that the players with political clout, links, or money to pay to the sponsors were selected.

The tournament was held from April 3 to 12 at Patiala in which eight kabbadi teams from USA, Australia, Iran, Italy, Pakistan, Canada, England and Spain participated. The Indian team had bagged the cup. Claiming to be initially a “part and parcel of the Indian squad selected for participation in the tournament”, the petitioners through counsel Ashoak K Sainii had added: “Since its inception, the selection of team was not done transparently, but was done with monetary and political consideration with ulterior motives”.

Sainii had indicated that the participating team made big money out of the tournament, while the petitioners kept in reserve were left with nothing. “It was declared that Rs 1 crore would be given to the winning team. Obviously, this was to be distributed among the players. “It was never declared by the Punjab government, Sports Ministry, Sports Department or for that purpose the managing committee of the tournament that the prize money or job benefits would not be given to the reserve players…. Even on asking, they have been flatly refused to be given anything on the pretext that they were reserve players.

After hearing arguments, Justice Surya Kant asserted: “The petitioners have already represented before the authorities on May 15, but without any response thereto”.

New York, September 4
Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi progressed to the men’s doubles pre-quarterfinals of US Open with a straight-set win over German-Finn pair of Michael Kohlmann and Jarkko Nieminen.

The 16th seed Indo-Pak pair defeated their opponents 6-4 6-4 in the second round of the season’s last Grand Slam. The Wimbledon quarter-finalists though have a tough job at hand as they are up against second seeds Daniel Nestor of Canada and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia in the round of 16. In the mixed doubles event, last year’s finalists Leander Paes and Cara Black of Zimbabwe moved to the second round after a 6-4 7-5 win over Czech pair of Lucie Hradecka and Frantisek Cermak.

Paes and his estranged partner Mahesh Bhupathi may clash in the second round of the mixed doubles event if the latter along with his partner Daniela Hantuchova clear their opening hurdle. Bhupathi and his Slovakian partner will open their campaign against Kaia Kanepi of Estonia and Robert Lindstedt of Sweden.
— PTI

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after defeating Denis Istomin
of Uzbekistan at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis
Center on Friday. — AFP

Nadal beats Istomin

World number one Rafa Nadal turned the tables in a dramatic second-set tiebreaker on his way to a 6-2 7-6 7-5 victory over Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan to reach the third round of the U.S. Open on Friday.

Top-seeded Nadal trailed 5-1 in the second-set decider after a spectacular point by the 39th-ranked Istomin, who left a long skid mark and finished with his legs split after a dash to hit a winner off a delicate drop shot from the Spaniard. After joining the roaring Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd in applauding Istomin's efforts, Nadal claimed the next six points to win the tiebreaker and then broke serve in the last game of the match to keep on track for the only grand slam title to elude him.

However, Nadal tried to downplay his quest to complete the career grand slam. "If I can win this tournament it would be a dream," the Spaniard said. "But I'm five matches away. I don't think about winning this tournament right now." The match featured a slew of exciting rallies as blistering serves, not entirely unexpected since the pair battled through three tough sets including a tiebreaker at Queen's, in which Nadal prevailed before capturing the Wimbledon crown.
— Reuters

BRIEFLY

Zhou Mi banned for 2 yrs
NEW DELHI: Former women world number one shuttler Zhou Mi of Hong Kong has been suspended for two years for failing a drug test, World badminton Federation said on Saturday. During one of BWF’s out-of-competition testing programme, Zhou tested positive for Clenbuterol, a Class 1 anabolic agent on the WADA prohibited list of substances, BWF said in a release.
— PTI

Brasa not to renew SAI contract
NEW DELHI: Defying Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) gag order, Indian hockey team’s chief coach Jose Brasa has called his employer SAI a “liar” and said he is not willing to prolong his association with the national side once his contract expires in November this year. The Spaniard alleged that SAI was lying about the salary and facilities it was providing him.
— PTI

Governing Council meet
MUMBAI: After failing to take a decision on the format of next year’s IPL at its previous sitting here last month, the Governing Council of the Twenty20 league is expected to finalise the match schedule on Sunday. Apart from chalking out the 2011 draft schedule, the Governing Council is also set to finalise player regulations, and approval and registration of player contracts.
— PTI

Archery team lift gold
New Delhi: The Indian men’s recurve archery team, consisting of Jayanta Talukdar, Tarundeep Rai and Rahul Banerjee, clinched the gold medal in the 4th World Cup Archery Championship at Shanghai (China) on Saturday. The Indian trio pipped Japan for the gold in a close finish at 224-220. In the earlier rounds, they defeated Great Britain 218-216, USA 225-208 and China 222-217. In the women’s recurve, Deepika Kumari will face strong challenge from Korea’s Bo Bae Ki for the gold later this evening. Jayanta Talukdar will fight against world champion Marco Galiazzo of Italy. In the earlier rounds, Deepika defeated her opponents from Chinese Taipei Hui Ju Wo and Katuna Lorig of the US. Talukdar, Dola Banerjee and Deepika have also qualified for the World Cup final to be held at Edinburg on September 18 and 19.
— TNS